Ruddick's Adm'r v. Ruddick's Adm'r

21 Ind. 163

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: November 15, 1863
• Status: Published

Opinion

Perkins, J.

There was suit in the Jackson Common Pleas. The plaintiff in that suit recovered a thousand dollars. The defendant made a motion for a new trial, which was overruled. The motion was based upon alleged newly discovered evidence.

After the trial, but within a year thereafter, the defendant filed his petition for a new trial on account of additional newly discovered evidence. The Court sustained a demurrer to the petition, and refused the new trial. The evidence heard on the original trial is not placed before this Court. How, therefore, can this Court say whether there ought to be a new trial or not? If the newly discovered evidence is merely cumulative, or would not change the result of the former trial, there ought not to be a' new trial. How can this Court, while in ignorance of the evidence given on the former trial, say what, in connection with that evidence, might be the effect of the newly discovered evidence, upon another trial. See the cases collected in Davis’ Dig. p. 627. Also, Cox v. Hutchings, and Glidewell v. Daggy, at this term.

J. J. Cummings, for the appellants. R. Crawford, for the appellee.

Per Curiam. — The judgment is affirmed, with costs.